Vacuum cleaner



April 1952 H. A. KROENLEIN VACUUM CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001;. 16, 1948 m R 6 Md N w M r m April 29, 1952 H. A. KROENLEIN 2,594,456

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 16, 1948 s Sheets-Sheet'Z I v o i) 0 a o 8 O INVENTOR, flew} J. Mom/e172 April 29, 1952 H. A. KROENLEIN 2,594,456

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Oct. 16, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 x3, m m 14 20 l 37 7 :55 59 J 42 I -42 45 45 I 25 A I? 44 38 T /z 44 :l T 5 A a; L g 5 29 U A29 INVENTOR, d/iroenZez'n Hemy Patented Apr. 29, 1952 VACUUM CLEANER Henry A. Kroenlein, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to The Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 16, 1948, Serial No. 54,976

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners, and more particularly to the type of vacuum cleaners having the operating mechanism within a housing or case, with means for attaching a flexible hose thereto for use in applying the nozzles to the surfaces to be cleaned.

Among the salient objects of the invention are:

To provide a vacuum cleaner in which there is no dirt-gathering bag to be carried around with the machine, the dirt being gathered into a pan or other solid container therefor, and which can be easily emptied and also which is more sanitary; to provide a vacuum cleaner in which there is a filtering member around the motor and the motor operated mechanism, with means for cleaning said filter in a quick and eifective manner, said means operating to brush or to shake the dust and dirt from the filter and down into the pan or container provided therefor; to provide in a vacuum cleaner a construction in which the motor fan, working connections and reel forthe electric cord, are all rotatable as a unit by hand when it is desired to wind the electric cord upon the reel, and at the same time cause a movement of the filtering member for the purpose of cleaning it. Other objects, purposes and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention shown on the accompanying three sheets of drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a vacuum cleaner embodying my invention, with parts in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a plan view of said vacuum cleaner with parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view taken through the showing in Fig. 1, on the irregular line 33;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a slightly modified embodiment of the invention; and

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 5-5 on Fig. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, my invention as here shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, includes a case or housing 6, with a dust and dirt receiving pan or container 1 detachably connected thereto as by means of releasable clamps 8, 8, said pan having provision at 9 for attaching a flexible hose, not shown.

Said housing at its upper end has a bearing casting l 3 secured thereto and which terminates in a vertical tubular portion II, to form a bearing support for the upper end of a motor housing, designated I 2, and the upper tubular por- 11 Claims. (Cl. 183---37) tion of which is revolubly held in said bearing casting tubular portion I l.

Mounted on said bearing casting I0 is a domelike housing 13, having around its lower edge a cord receiving reel, designated M, with an annular cover l5 therefor, which cover has air inlet openings and exhaust openings when the machine is operating as a vacuum cleaner, again referred to. Said dome-like member l3 supports an electric switch Hi, from which the electric wires I1, ll are extended into and through the tubular extension H and down into the motor housing l2, as clearly shown in Fig. l, where they connect with the motor field, designated as a 1 whole l8, secured to the inner side of said motor housing l2. The electric wires are extended to and around the cord reel, as seen in section, with the free end thereof extending out through an eye I9, and having a terminal for connection with the usual outlet, said terminal being designated 20. Also mounted on said dome-like housing [3, is a handle 2|, by means of which it can be turned for winding up the electric wire or cord. A removable cap 22 is shown in place in the upper open end or top of the dome-like member l3. When this cap is in place, the exhaust from the machine is out through the slots or openings i I5, in the cover l5, before referred to. This cap 22 can be removed, and the service hose inserted therein, when it is desired to have a blowing action through the flexible hose.

In the lower part of the motor housing I2, is located the fan or turbine members 23, on a driving shaft 24, from the motor rotor, designated 25, having its bearings in the bearing members 26 and 21 above and below, in the motor housing l2.

Mounted on top of the motor housing 12 is a disc 28, which supports around its outer edge a filtering member which consists of a fabric cylinder 29, with a wire basket 30 therein for holding it in uniform cylindrical shape, as will be understoodfrom the showing in Fig. 1.

Pivotally supported against the outside of said filter fabric is a vertical brush element 3|, with a horizontal brush element 32 bearing against the bottom of said filter. Said brush elements are supported on the pivoted arms 33, 33 for the vertical brush, and 34 for the horizontal brush, with a coiled spring 35 connecting two of said arms in a way to yieldingly move said brush elements into engagement with the side and bottom of said filter cylinder.

The tubular exhaust conduit and bearing section I2 01 the motor housing [2 seats in the tubular portion ll of the bearing casting II) which forms a guide bearing for the rotatably mounted portion of the apparatus. The upper end of the tubular member 12 receives a collar ll, secured by a suitable set screw, which supports the upper dome structure and cord reel. A thrust bearing plate H rests upon the upper edge of the tubular member II and carries the vertical thrust weight of the entire power unit consisting of the motor, fan, housing, cord reel, dome, switch and rotating handle structure. Due to the foregoing construction, rotational force applied to the handle 2i rotates the dome l3, cord reel i l, switch 16, motor housing l2-l2 and its appurtenant structures as a unit for the purpose of reeling or unreeling the cord I i on the reel I4. f

This operation by hand is the method of winding up the electric cord on the reel I4, and also turning the motor housing l2, the disc 28 thereon and the filter cylinder. This turning of the filter cylinder causes the yieldingly held brushes 3| and 32 to wipe or brush the dust and dirt from the outside of said filter as it is revolved in engagement with said brushes. The dust and dirt is dropped down into the pan or container 1.

A carrying handle 36 is shown, whereby the cleaner can be easily carried from place to place.

Thus when the switch 56 is closed and the circuit is connected with a source of electric energyfthe rotor 25' of the motor drives thefans at high speed, which creates a suction through the inlet hose connection 9, and up through the filter, and into the dome-like member i3, and

out through the openings l5 therein, or, if the cap 22 is removed, said exhaust is out through the top of said member i3.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown a slightly modified embodiment of the invention. All parts similar to the parts in Fig. 1, are given the same reference numerals.

Instead of using the brushes to wipe the dirt and dust from the filter, I have provided a mechanism for shaking said filter to shake the dust and dirt down into the dust pan '1.

' Mounted on the motor housing I2 is a dome or cap-like member 31, having around its lower edge turned up portions to form cam inclines, as 38, 33. This member with its cam inclines are turned with the motor housing It and the other parts connected therewith, as before described, when said members are turned by hand, by means of the handle 2 l The filter, in this embodiment of the invention, comprises a fabric or canvas cylinder 29" suspended from a flange or ring 39 attached to the top wall of the casing 6. The bottom portion of the filter is retained in stretched condition by means of aplate member 41) which is suspended from a pair of vertical tubes M which telescopically embrace a pair of rods 42 depending from the top wall of the casing 6. Each rod 42 is surrounded by a compression spring 43 bear ing on the upper end of the tubular member 4| to press the member 49- into engagement with the bottom portionof the filter so as to maintain the same in taut 'conditionl Each member 4| carries an angle iron 4'4 at its upper end which terminates in a bearing roller 45 extending over the'cam surfaces 38 on'the dome member 31. The outer surface of the motor casing 52 is provided with a plurality of projecting detent teeth 41 adjacent its top within the dome 31. The dome 31 carries-a spring pressed pawl 43 adapted to be engagedby the teeth 41 to impart adriving rota- 4- tional movement to the dome 31 to cause the cam surfaces to engage the rollers 45 to raise the member 46 against the bias of the springs 43. As shown on the drawing, Figure 5, taken on the line 55 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows for the purpose of showing the structure 46, 4? clearly, is a View rotated 180 degree; about an axis such as the line 5-5 to bring the view into the plane of the paper. Consequently, that portion of the casing in Figure 5 adjacent the bottom of the drawing represents the back wall of the casing as shown in Figure 4. Clockwise rotation applied to the handle 2 I, as viewed in Figure 4, appears as a counter-clockwise rotional force applied to the handle 2i in a clockwise direction rotates the member !2 counterclockwise as viewed in Figure 5, which imparts rotational movement to the dome 31 through engagement between one of the teeth 41 and the pawl 46. As the dome 3'1 rotates, the cam 38 engages rollers 45 lifting the plate 46 and its appurtenant structures until the cam rides off the abrupt end portion 38' of the cam surfaces which then allows the spring to project the member 40 with considerable force against the filter 29' shaking the same and dislodging adherent dirt therefrom into the pan 5. Clockwise rotational force applied to the handle 2!, as viewed in Figure 4, serves to rotate the power unit assembly for the purpose of unreeling the cord I! from the reel i i. Counter-clockwise rotation of the member it, as viewed in Figure 5, does not operate the dome 37 as the teeth 4'! merely ride by the pawl 45 without imparting a driving force thereto.

Thus I have an improved vacuum cleaner in which a motor housing is suspended in a main housing and can be rotated by hand for the purpose of winding an electric cord on a reel carried by said motor housing, with a motor driven fan in said motor housing for sucking the air into said main housing, with a filtering member in said main housing, around said motor housing and fan for filtering the dirt and dust from said air on to the outer surface of said filtering memberi I have also provided means for brushing or shaking said dust and dirt from the outside of said filtering member down into a dust-catching pan, from which it can be emptied with convenience and in a sanitary manner. In the present showing, the motor housing has the stator of the motor secured to it, with the rotor of the motor rotating therein and driving the fan. This makes it possible for me to revolve the motor housing, the cord reel, and the filtering member by hand without interfering with the electric connections, for the electric wires, and connections are all on the rotating parts, which avoids sliding contacts in the circuit. These and other features described, makes for a most practical and efficient vacuum cleaner.

I do not, however, limit my invention to the details of 1 construction and arrangement shown for explanatory purposes, except as I may be limited by the hereto appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, a casing having an air inlet therein, a bearing structure on said casing, a power unit rotatably supported on said bearing structure comprising a suction air fan and an electric motor drivingly connected to said suction airfan, a"filter in said casing interposed between said suction air fan and said casing air inlet, filter cleaning means, and means operated by rotation of said power unit for producing relative movement between said filter and said filter cleaning means to remove dirt from the surface of said filter.

2. In a suction cleaner, a casing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a suction air fan in said casing for drawing dirt laden air through said air inlet and for discharging air through said outlet, a dirt filter in said casing interposed between said air inlet and said air outlet, an electric motor drivingly connected to said suction air fan, a cord reel, a bearing structure on said casing, means mounting said electric motor and said cord reel on said bearing structure for rotation as a unit with respect to said casing, an electric service cord connected to said motor and wrapped about said reel whereby said service cord is wound on or unwound from said reel by bodily rotation of said motor and cord reel on said bearing structure.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 including an electric switch on said cord reel connected in said service cord for controlling the energization of said motor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 including means securing said service cord to said cord reel adjacent the point of connection of said service cord to said electric motor, and an electric switch mounted on said cord reel and connected in said service cord to control the energization of said motor.

5. In a suction cleaner, a casing having an inlet for dirt laden air, a bearing structure on said casing, a power unit rotatably mounted on said bearing structure comprising a hollow housing having an air exhaust portion extending through said bearing structure, a suction air fan rotatably mounted in said housing to draw air thereinto and to discharge air through said exhaust portion, an electric motor drivingly connected to said suction air fan and mounted in said housing, an end member on said power unit facing said exhaust portion in spaced relation thereto, a cord reel on said end member spaced from said exhaust portion, and a service cord permanently connected to said motor and wound about said cord reel whereby rotation of said power unit serves to wind and unwind said cord, said casing having a plurality of exhaust ports spaced from said cord reel whereby air discharging from said suction air fan passes over said cord reel, and a filter in said casing between said casing air inlet and said suction air fan.

6. In a suction cleaner; a casing having an inlet for dirt laden air; a bearing structure in said casing; a power unit rotatably mounted in said bearing structure comprising, a suction air fan, an electric motor drivingly connected to said fan, a cord reel, and a service cord permanently connected to said electric motor and wound about said cord reel whereby rotation of said power unit serves to wind or unwind said cord on said reel; and a filter in said casing interposed between said casing air inlet and said suction air fan.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 including a control switch mounted on said power unit and connected in said service cord for controlling the energization of said motor.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which said casing has an opening adjacent said cord reel and said service cord extends through said opening.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2 including filter cleaning means in said casing and means operated by rotation of said motor and cord reel for producing relative movement between said filter and said filter cleaning means for cleaning said filter.

10. In a suction cleaner, a casing forming a dirt collecting chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, a power unit on said casing ineluding a suction air fan connected to pump cleaning air through said casing from said air inlet to said air outlet and an electric motor drivingly connected to said fan, a filter in said casing interposed between said air inlet and said air outlet to collect dirt from the air flowing through said casing, a filter clearing means for subjecting said filter to a cleaning action to remove collected dirt from said filter in response to relative movement between said filter and said filter clearing means, a cord reel rotatably mounted on said casing, a service cord on said reel for supplying electrical energy to said motor, and means operated by rotary movement of said cord reel for producing relative movement between said filter and said filter clearing means.

11. In a suction cleaner a casing forming a dirt collecting chamber having an air inlet and an air outlet, a power unit on said casing including a suction air fan connected to pump cleaning air through said casing from said air inlet to said air outlet and an electric motor drivingly connected to said fan, a filter in said casing interposed between said air inlet and said air outlet to collect dirt from the air flowing through said casing, mechanism for subjecting said filter to a cleaning action to remove collected dirt therefrom including a member rotatably mounted on said casing for actuating said filter cleaning mechanism, a cord reel carried by said rotatably mounted member, and a service cord on said reel for supplying electrical energy to said motor.

HENRY A. KROENLEIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,993,231 Tunstall Mar. 5, 1935 2,116,233 Cole May 3, 1938 2,187,546 Orem Jan. 16, 1940 2,233,167 Holm-Hansen Feb. 25, 1941 2,364,877 Smellie Dec. 12, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 856,275 France Mar. 18, 1940 54,191 Denmark Jan 17, 1938 

